Terms of
Reference
To consider the Audit Services
Manager’s annual report and opinion, and a summary of
internal audit activity (actual and proposed) and the level of
assurance it can give over the Council’s corporate governance
arrangements.
To consider summaries of specific
internal audit reports as requested.
To consider reports dealing with the
management and performance of the providers of internal audit
services.
To consider a report from internal
audit on agreed recommendations not implemented within a reasonable
timescale.
To consider the external
auditor’s annual letter, relevant reports, and the report to
those charged with governance.
To consider specific reports as
agreed with the external auditor.
To comment on the scope and depth of
external audit work and to ensure it gives value for money.
To liaise with the Audit Commission
over the appointment of the Council’s external auditor.
To commission work from internal and
external audit.
Approve the terms of reference for
Internal Audit Charter.
Approve the Internal Audit
strategy.
Consider the resourcing of Internal
Audit.
To maintain an overview of the
Council’s constitution in respect of contract procedure
rules, financial regulations and codes of conduct and
behaviour.
To review any issue referred to it by
the Chief Executive or a Director, or any Council body.
To monitor the effective development
and operation of risk management and corporate governance in the
Council.
To monitor Council policies on
‘Raising Concerns at Work’ and the anti-fraud and
anti-corruption strategy and the Council’s complaints
process.
To oversee the production of the
authority’s Statement on Internal Control and to recommend
its adoption.
To consider the Council’s
arrangements for corporate governance and agreeing necessary
actions to ensure compliance with best practice.
To consider the Council’s
compliance with its own and other published standards and
controls.
To review the annual Statement of
Accounts. Specifically to consider
whether appropriate accounting policies have been followed and
whether there are concerns arising from the financial statements or
from the audit that need to be brought to the attention of the
Council.
To consider the external
auditor’s report to those charged with governance on issues
arising from the audit of the
accounts.